Monday, November 21 2005 17:27 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

New Delhi: In the face of recent sharp warnings on the Iran nuclear issue by the Left parties, the Government and the Left parties today (Nov 21, 2005) agreed that the matter should remain within the jurisdiction of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) and not referred to the United Nations Security Council.

"Government informed the Left parties of the progress made through diplomatic efforts (on the issue). It was noted that the Government's intention was to ensure that the matter remains within the jurisdiction of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA)", Finance Minister P Chidambaram told reporters after a two-hour meeting of the Left- United Progressive Alliance (UPA) Coordination Committee, chaired by Prime Minister Manmohan Singh.

Communist Party of India (CPI) Marxist (M) Polit Bureau member Sitaram Yechury, who was also present at the meeting, said, "Our position has all along been that any dispute about Iran's nuclear capability should be kept within the confines of the IAEA and not taken to the UN Security Council. Iran is a signatory to the NPT and has its rights and obligations.

"Government has expressed its intention to make all diplomatic efforts to keep the issue within the confines of IAEA and this concurs with the views always held by the Left," he said.

Asked about the IAEA findings that Iran's nuclear mission was based on illegal supply of inputs by controversial Pakistani scientist Abdul Qadeer Khan, Yechury said "IAEA made these findings. Let them take a decision on their own findings."

In the last one-week the Left parties had stepped up pressure on the Government on the issue, saying they would rake it up in Parliament and the Government would have to reverse its anti-Iran vote stand at IAEA.

Asked if a situation arose at November 24 IAEA meet wherein the Government would need to vote, Yechury said, "The next vote will mean the issue goes to the UN Security Council."

"We will oppose that and the Government is also working towards that objective (to avoid vote). There could also be a possibility that a vote is not required at all," The CPI(M) leader said, adding the Left parties would await the outcome of the IAEA meet.

Besides the Prime Minister, UPA Chairperson Sonia Gandhi, Defence Minister Pranab Mukherjee, CPI (M) General Secretary Prakash Karat, CPI Secretary D Raja and RSP leader Abani Roy also attended the meeting.